What happens when a team of spirited underdogs faces a high-flying rival? Spoiler alert: Sutton United proves that grit, teamwork, and a little cheek can make for a memorable match.
Mike Dowling
00:06 - 00:54
Hello and welcome to another episode of Southern United Talk Time on podcast. It's the Sutton podcast in association with Lucky Star Gin. I'm your host, Mike. And with me today, we have Neil and Alex. We had Rory and Alex but Neil had already said before a month ago and I didn't write it down and then it was going to be Rory, Neil and Alex and then Rory's had to dash off so now it's Alex and Neil and we were just trying to just work out what their kind of win-loss ratio is because there was definitely 1 they lost but it was a phantom 1 that didn't record so but never mind it's fine we've got Neil and Alex we're going to continue carry on the discussion of the post-Christmas unbeaten run okay I've been saying it all season we're going to do well after Christmas and I'm not saying I'm perfectly right but I am perfectly right.
Mike Dowling
00:55 - 01:24
And then we will look forward to the visit of West Brom Kids and Eastleigh. Join the conversation, give us the likes, thumbs up, shares, retweets, blah, blah, blah. Thanks to everyone who does it. Alex, yourself, definitely on Instagram, thank you very much. We're on all social medias, at Sutton Podcast, and the comments, likes and shares do help us reach a wider audience. So let's kick off. Pixelated Alex, congratulations, it's your 10th appearance.
Alex
01:25 - 01:26
You... Oh, is it?
Mike Dowling
01:26 - 01:43
It is. There is an exclusive badge that will come your way just as soon as I remember where I've put them. So don't hold your breath for it, but you will get 1. And how long on this episode do you think it's going to take for you to mention your unbeaten streak?
Alex
01:44 - 01:47
I'm intending to that be the first thing I say.
Mike Dowling
01:47 - 01:49
Perfect, perfect. Go on and say it again now.
Alex
01:50 - 02:05
Go on. Oh, just, oh, well, if you've thrown me under the bus there, Mike, but this is my fourth of the season and it's 3 wins and a draw, so 10 points out of 12. But this 1, we were actually going, a few of us went up to a group went up to York for the weekend
Mike Dowling
02:07 - 02:21
perfect and Neil a veteran by comparison with I think it's number 23 I know I haven't planned any gifts yet but I'm sure I'll think of something. But how have you been, Neil?
Neil
02:21 - 02:25
I've been fine. And I'm still on location in York.
Mike Dowling
02:25 - 02:59
Are you? Neil's turning into a 4 day vendor. And we're gonna dive in. So Neil, you've had not much chance to think about this, but we're going to dive in for the Knowing Me, Knowing You, and I'm going to remember to do the logo jingle this week. So Alex, since you've had a bit more time to think about this.
Alex
03:00 - 03:00
Have I?
Mike Dowling
03:01 - 03:10
Well, you got sent, well I said yes, this is the game you're doing. So if you didn't read that email, that's up to you. What odd place have you managed to speak to someone about Sutton United?
Alex
03:11 - 03:43
Yeah, I did. I did give this a bit of thought. I've been amongst my mates of bringing up Sutton wherever we are. So that is something that follows me around. I'm obviously keen to talk about the youth. I think the weirdest or the most, I remember being, went skiing and was at Lackanapare Ski Bar and started our group, and there was a Bromley fan there. So I started talking about Sutton there. So that was really, in the Andorran Alps, if you can call them that. That's probably my weirdest place.
Mike Dowling
03:44 - 03:48
Perfect. And Neil, what's what place have you managed to talk to someone about something?
Neil
03:48 - 04:31
I'm gonna do my usual I've got to 1 was in Bulgaria, which unfortunately I was skiing when we played Arsenal in the FA Cup And then these Bulgarians told me that there was a bar that showed the football. So I managed to beetle over there and find it to find the bar populated with a whole load of Arsenal fans. Then really finding out I was a Sutton United fan. I never bought a beer all evening. They bought all of my beers. It's fabulous. And I was able to tell them all about Sutton United. So that was good.
Neil
04:32 - 04:42
And then the other ones was with some mad Welshman who between them supported Swansea, Cardiff and Newport, walking the Great Wall of China.
Alex
04:44 - 04:45
And at
Neil
04:45 - 04:59
that time joking about how we would, you know, they were saying, oh, well, you know, Sutton would never be in the football league, ha ha ha ha, and why didn't I support a proper team? Well, of course I had the last laugh there, we did make it into the football league.
Mike Dowling
04:59 - 05:37
Yeah, I've always hated that. What proper team do you support? Yeah. I properly support Sutton and things. Well, let us know your thoughts. Where is the oddest place you've managed to speak to someone about Sutton United? It doesn't have to be abroad, it can be anywhere, But where is the oddest place? Moving on to club news, there is some breaking and exclusive news that some people may have already known, but it seems that Steve Morrison might have a little more knowledge than getting the best out of his players than I do. He demanded better from Jack Taylor and I felt was a bit harsh.
Mike Dowling
05:38 - 06:04
We'll talk about Jack in a moment. He said Will Davis, he was looking forward to him hitting 20 goals well into the season and I thought that was a little bit too demanding. So yeah, a man who's played football at some very good levels knows a little bit more about football than someone who's paid to watch it for decades. You're kidding. Say again? I didn't hear, sorry.
Alex
06:04 - 06:06
I said you're kidding.
Mike Dowling
06:06 - 06:34
Yeah, absolutely, yeah. Who knew? Who knew? People on the terraces don't know as much as people paid to do it. And also just a reminder, because there was some conversation in the little WhatsApp group people didn't realise, is a beer festival. On the weekend we're about to play Kid Imit Star so it's the Friday and the Saturday so obviously people are going to miss the Saturday but it's Friday as well so it's at the club. I'm sure more details will come out nearer the time but give people a heads up. So Neil we'll start with you.
Mike Dowling
06:35 - 06:50
A few changes to the lineup and personally I was expecting it to be nice compact and keep it tight for the first 20 or so to weather the early storm. What were you expecting and what did you think of the lineup?
Neil
06:52 - 07:34
The lineup was sort of as I expected, but I thought we'd see Jack Wadham back in his sort of number 10, you know, playing that advanced midfield role. And as it turned out, he wasn't even in the squad. And then we had Alex playing the deeper midfield role, and then Lewis playing the sort of more advanced midfield role. And aside from that, it was the team as I expected, because it was virtually the team before. Surprised to see Jack back. I wasn't sure whether he'd recovered from his head injury or whatever it was, but that was my feelings.
Mike Dowling
07:35 - 07:37
Fair enough. And what were your expectations of the game?
Neil
07:39 - 07:46
My expectations, hopeful we could win, but realistically thought we would lose.
Mike Dowling
07:47 - 07:56
Fair enough. And Alex, what about yourself? What was your thoughts on the lineup and what were your expectations? I know you went up as a group to have a fun weekend but...
Alex
07:56 - 08:34
Yeah, yeah. We went up for the weekend thinking the weekend would be fun and the football would possibly be the worst bit of it. I mean I wasn't optimistic going into the game. I thought Wednesday's performance discussed it on the previous pod but you know good in patches but defensively looked a little bit shaky. The crosses that both of their both of Wilson's goals came from So I thought against the better side like you and that came down to the VBS earlier in the season. I thought we'd be in trouble. Saw the lineup and saw that Eddie Vaz was back in, that caught me by surprise.
Alex
08:34 - 09:06
I like he hasn't started in the league since November I think it was, so to see him and then Bez just playing the left-handed potential for us to be a little bit vulnerable down that side And I was sort of like Neil, I think that you said, like a compact first 15, 20 minutes. And I thought the line. And actually, that is what we got throughout the game. We were very compact, very disciplined, very good shape, but I thought we'd achieve that. And yeah, it did. So as you said, maybe Steve Morrison knows a bit more than.
Neil
09:10 - 09:19
I have to say, I didn't expect Vaz to even be on the team sheet or in the squad. So, you know, that was a surprise.
Mike Dowling
09:21 - 10:04
Well, so we could do this in any order, but we'll start with Will. A brace and now 12 for the season against his old club. I think Aaron in the interview said something, but it wasn't kind of, I'm not sure Will understood it as Aaron meant it, but Will's worked so hard throughout the season and he hasn't been getting the goals, he hasn't been getting his rewards and we're now seeing him getting the rewards. Alex, you start with this 1. How do you, What did you feel about Will's performance yesterday and how pleased are you for him?
Mike Dowling
10:04 - 10:16
I mean, I'm amazed. I mean, Steve said he lost his legs and had to come off and he said that was the first time this season. Yeah, which is true. The guys played every minute. But you sort of, if you're love letter, go on.
Alex
10:17 - 10:53
Oh, please let me. I think it was the last 1. And you put a quote up on social media, it might have been something I said about his all-round game and discussion compared to him and Harry Smith, and his all-round game and how much he works for the team. It's referenced in terms of, you know, playing every minute and everything. And you did feel that there was more. And because he's clearly such a good finisher, but he wasn't necessarily getting the opportunities partly because the team wasn't. To both of his, What I liked yesterday is he did all the all-round stuff, he did all the things to play all of that.
Alex
10:53 - 11:25
His goals were so clinical but both so difficult. I think it's a massive positive sign for a centre-forward where you've got this predator's ability to dart and flick the header on from the corner, which is a good skill in itself. We haven't scored many goals from corners this got second goal, where there's the option to pass it back to Ashley and he said, you know, so I'm not going to pass it back. I'm going to leather this in the top corner. And really, it was quite wide when he shot. Oh, why are you shooting from there?
Alex
11:25 - 11:41
But I kind of I want my centre forward and my instinct. I'm going to shoot. I'm going to score. And yeah, I thought he was clinical but in different ways and it's just how much he I think had 6 goals in his last 6 games and he's really flourishing and yeah, he
Mike Dowling
11:41 - 11:59
deserves it. Yeah, that goal was, I mean, it was to near side of the keeper again, a good keeper. I do like the way now that I said, Oh, we've got another assist and I'm like, I'm gonna call that an assist. You tapped it to him to finish. Okay. But Neil,
Alex
12:01 - 12:02
at first,
Mike Dowling
12:02 - 12:03
yeah, at first,
Alex
12:06 - 12:15
yeah, so this is I watched the highlights back and there's a slight delay, an ever so slight delay in the crowd. Because I think a few of us had thought that it was the side netting, but no, what
Mike Dowling
12:15 - 12:26
a finish. It was the, oh! Neil, how was that for you, Will's performance in, well, the whole game, but in those first 20 odd minutes?
Neil
12:27 - 13:07
It was a proper centre-forwards performance. A gold with his head, which was a superb header. Something we haven't seen for ages. And looking back on it, I didn't quite appreciate how much he had to do for that second goal because he had 2 defenders around him. He took it past them and the finish was so fierce. The keeper just didn't have a chance to react and it was in the back of the net. And like Alex, where I was, I thought it had gone into the side netting.
Mike Dowling
13:08 - 13:38
Yeah, I mean, you can go a bit too far with these things, but it's the kind of goal you don't have a right to score. There's no way he should have scored that goal and same as the goal he scored the other night as well is like all these good chances and he then gets the ball, presses someone and smashes it and it's like what if we can do that? Can we not just do that more often please? But yeah he said himself it's the confidence, it's the confidence is now flowing he feels he's going to score all the time.
Mike Dowling
13:38 - 13:50
So yeah god who knows he might hit that 20 goal mark. Sorry Alex you kind of cut out every now and then,
Alex
13:50 - 14:01
but... Do you think it's like, let's go to the season? Because the 1 that springs to mind for me is Maidstone against Fylde.
Mike Dowling
14:02 - 14:02
Yeah.
Alex
14:03 - 14:12
There's long range, but that sat up really nicely, caught it well. I think the way that what Neil's described about how. For this to get the chance and then to finish itself,
Mike Dowling
14:12 - 14:12
you've
Alex
14:12 - 14:13
got to be in the conversation.
Mike Dowling
14:15 - 14:25
Absolutely. I mean, I know the 1 you're talking from that is I think. That will probably be considered more aesthetically pleasing. They just
Alex
14:25 - 14:26
sat up nicely, though.
Mike Dowling
14:26 - 14:37
Yeah, that's the kind of goal that you sort of dream about, that you're sitting there and it's got, oh, it's all done it for me. But, you know, you're dead right. It's a great goal.
Neil
14:38 - 14:59
It was a nice build up as well, because it was right back straight down the line, knocked inside to Nadas, who then passed it to Will, who then did a heck of a lot with it and in the back of the net so it was route 1 football but it was actually route 1 football down the side which is becoming more and more our thing.
Mike Dowling
15:00 - 15:40
Yeah you're old enough to remember Glen Hoddle. Not sure Alex does, but he used to say there's no long ball, short ball, long ball, there's the right ball, the wrong ball, because he used to just spray the ball around. But We had so many chances. Josh had 2 one-on-ones and then from 1 of them Finlay sort of the ball came right out to him and he's like, he tried to react but there was not a chance. I think Finlay had another 1 later on. Nana had 1 that was probably too easy. I mean, that sounds silly.
Mike Dowling
15:40 - 16:13
I know what I mean. It's like, you get it, and you're like, OK, this has gone in. What do I do now? What do I celebrate? Oh, shit, I've missed it. I mean, do we get to say my Nana would have scored that? I don't know. But what I do know is Mike wouldn't have scored that. But Neil, oh, and also the Topalov tackle. So what I'm basically trying to say is I went with 5-2 last week. Okay. That's my prediction. On another day, I could have got that right. Everyone was calling me mental, but I could have got it right.
Mike Dowling
16:13 - 16:19
But Neil, talk us through some of those chances, how you were feeling and that amazing tackle as well, which is worth a goal.
Neil
16:20 - 16:28
The amazing tackle, I thought the ball was in the back of the net. I just don't know how he pulled off that tackle. It was immense.
Mike Dowling
16:30 - 16:35
And our ball, because he knocked it off him to get to win the goal kick as well.
Neil
16:35 - 17:25
The first Josh, when he was through, that was equally a good tackle from the York defender because he took it off Josh's foot and Josh went to kick a ball that just wasn't there. So they were 2 outstanding bits of defending. Looking back at the Nanna chance, he bent down to head it. He has actually been better kicking it. I don't think he'd have missed then. Yeah, but we should have been 3 up at halftime or even 4 up. And though there's a lot of abuse on the forums, they're making that point.
Mike Dowling
17:25 - 17:26
Yeah.
Neil
17:28 - 17:37
That there were a lot of chances. They can't really complain that they've lost to a poor team as
Mike Dowling
17:37 - 17:38
they are anyway.
Neil
17:39 - 17:41
And masters of shittery.
Mike Dowling
17:44 - 17:53
Yes, I've got that written down. I've got that written down. Alex, go on, talk us through some of the chances and what you're feeling at the time and the tackle, don't forget.
Alex
17:56 - 18:29
I think you can't score every chance. I think we need to work on it a bit. I think, when it went through, I agree about the first tackle, the point that Neil made, the second 1 that is sort of almost... That's a good chance and we missed that and we played really well and ended up scoring and winning but on another day, for a top of the league like York, you won't get many chances. And just in the context of those one-on-ones that Dylan had against Wilston on Wednesday, you know, 1 right at the start and 1 towards the end, both hit straight to the goalkeeper.
Alex
18:29 - 19:21
I do think there's some general finishing work in the squad, Davis aside, obviously, for the reasons we just discussed, but I do think there's...have created all those chances in this...we've scored 4 goals across the 2 games in this week, you know, it's not a big maybe being a bit harsh. I think if we want to get up to the 1, when I'm going with it is that when it goes well, and you get loads of chances, and you take 30% of them, you'll win. But as we know, our inconsistency of performances in the National League generally you don't always get loads of chances and finish well enough so that when you're not playing well you don't get as many chances you take them but you know we scored 4 goals this week including 2 away at York with a win.
Alex
19:21 - 19:22
So I'm over it.
Mike Dowling
19:22 - 20:03
Yeah, I mean, a couple of people have said is if you told us this week, we'd end up with 4 points. You would have taken that. You'd have expected it the other way around, but you definitely would have taken it. So they did change their system, so they went with their sort of big 3 strikers for the first time. So Fair play to our guys for kind of going, that's what they're going to do because they hadn't done it before. How do you think, what did we do to stifle them, Alex? I mean, I know we were compact, but how do you kind of feel that we coped with them and what we did that other teams haven't been able to.
Mike Dowling
20:03 - 20:07
I think only Boston has beaten there and we frustrated.
Alex
20:07 - 20:29
Yeah, I think it might be time to talk about Jack Taylor. I thought he was immense, Absolutely fantastic. I'm going to say this a few times in this podcast, I'm on a bit of a high from the weekend, but that's 1 of the best things a lot of players have had this season, I thought. Considering the fact that he's only recently come back into the team,
Mike Dowling
20:29 - 20:30
and he's done a
Neil
20:30 - 20:31
fabulous job,
Alex
20:31 - 21:06
you know, marshalled it on the ball, off the ball. I can't remember him losing everything that we've been looking for in our centre-backs this season. He did well for Alex Woodyard. Obviously, I'm biased. His name's Alex. I want him to do well. I'm sure he's going to be brilliant. I thought he fits into that role really nicely and I think he and Finlay, as Neil mentioned, allows Lewis to go further forward, which is really where he's at his best, attacking role rather than a deeper lying, tough tackling midfield and I thought you know Alex is very good.
Alex
21:11 - 21:22
Right position, organizing, good experience, head in his shot, sensible, smart play, that is exactly what you need. General trick, you walk away So I think a word for him and as I say a word for Jack.
Mike Dowling
21:22 - 21:37
Yeah, I mean, this is 1 of the points that Steve made that I thought he was being a bit harsh. Do you think he did take the game by the scruff of the neck and said, no, this is Jack's game. Neil, what do you what do you make of his performance?
Neil
21:38 - 22:22
Both Jack and Finlay were immense, so all of those high waged, high priced prima donnas have been outplayed by 2 kids who both need notes from their mothers to be out on the school nights. So I think that I think that says it all. I think that Pierce's wage I think he's on 7 and a half grand a week. That's probably what half our wage bill is for the entire squad. And he didn't get a look in because Jack just marked him out of the game. And he didn't miss a header. His heading was superb.
Neil
22:22 - 22:48
He was confident on the ball. He did not look phased. And that was a big, big crowd that was right in your face because it's such a compact grounds very intimidating he looked as if he'd been playing for seasons he looked so much so mature for a 20 year old. I did. Or is he 19 and Findi oh yeah he's 19 and Findi's 20. Yeah
Mike Dowling
22:48 - 23:32
I did message him and said he best not put those shorts in the washing because he might want to check the back pocket for £350, 000. So, I mean, you've named, I think almost every player on the pitch has been named so far, it's playing really, really well. We did concede. I mean, you're not going to play against a team that's doing that well and not concede. I think, stupidly and strangely, and obviously I wasn't there, but actually in the long run conceding then could be better for us because we did have to hang on, hold the lead, see it out.
Mike Dowling
23:33 - 23:44
Neil, what do you think, obviously at the time, you're gonna let your hearts in your mouth. We've always drawn to 2 with them, but how are you feeling at the equalizer? And do you see that it could be a very good thing?
Neil
23:46 - 24:16
I didn't think it was a good thing at the time. And it was at that point, we were, Jenny and I were both predicting 6 minutes of added time and we all know what's happened in that and were we possibly going to concede in added time for the third game on the trot? Was it the game on the trot? No, we didn't against Wheelstone. But yeah, no, third
Alex
24:16 - 24:17
time's the charm.
Neil
24:19 - 25:07
But we did manage the game so much better and we got a free kick, we took it down into the corner, We got very good at wasting time. Good game management. As I said, hate it when the opposition do it. But when we do it so well, it's a joy. And they were getting so wound up. The crowd was getting wound up. The players were getting wound up, which probably explains half of the handbags after the match had finished. It was… but that was a bad… the aftermath of them scoring made me very angry because of the way Jack was mugged by 3 of their forwards trying to get the ball in the back of the net.
Neil
25:07 - 25:27
He got quite injured by that. He was tied up in the net. They were stomping all over him to get hold of the ball. So, I think that really was… And then the referee seemed to seem to not even realize, turned round and then realized he couldn't start the game again because our goalkeeper was entangled in the net.
Mike Dowling
25:28 - 26:06
Well, I'm going to try and guess what Alex might say on that, but Alex, I think that was part of some of the game management that Neil was just talking about, because that break took away their momentum completely, because we had to, poor injured Jack, had to be looked after and cuddled and everything. But what did you think about the late push and holding on and then, yeah, we're gonna come on to the terrible teens, that no 1.
Alex
26:06 - 26:43
Yeah, I think it's massive we survived we survived stoppage time you know this has been a problem some day new year's day obviously spring to mind recent results where we've thrown 4 points away by not being able to hold on. So I think you're right, Mike, I think in the moment we can concede in the worst to coast at 2-0 to be a really comfortable end to the game, but in the next time we're defending a lead in and there's 6 minutes of stoppage time goes up, we'll have this in the memory bankers, they're way to second in the league, arguably top of the league with their games in hand.
Alex
26:43 - 27:00
So to have that I think will be huge for the players and it was it was a real credit to them that they managed They and I think that fitted in with how they managed the game and how disciplined they were generally. So It may be really positive in the long run
Mike Dowling
27:01 - 27:43
Right now let's talk about the things that everybody, nobody wants to see. The terrible return of shithousing Sutton. I mean, it's awful. So yeah, we managed the game out. We got that silly little nasty streak, we got that little things, and there was, I think, 3 moments. There was a, Sadat was tackled off the pitch, and that caused a little kerfuffle. Why the York players didn't just carry on while he was off the pitch and just point out he was off the pitch? I'm beyond don't understand. Then there was the moment after the goal and then there was the final whistle.
Mike Dowling
27:44 - 27:48
How are you feeling about the Shithouse Sutton coming back, Alex?
Alex
27:50 - 28:36
To be honest, I'm actually I'm about it because so I think if we take the 3 instances my OK, so I think the first 1 when Jack goes down injured and for the on the audio, I'm very much doing air quotes here. And I think that is smart. I don't love the play acting, but it's kind of part of the game. As you say, took the wind out of their sails. I've not injured in the slightest. But I think that, you know, it takes the wind out of the sails, it pauses the restart. I don't get similarly with the incident in stoppage time while the game still going on, you know, again, I don't love a player's game, but it runs the clock down a bit.
Alex
28:36 - 29:14
It takes momentum out of you. You know, again, part of the game, maybe it's a skill that we need to learn. And I would ideally like it if it wasn't part of the game overall, I think, but if someone's going to do it, we need to be able to do it as well. Post-game, probably 1, because it's tricky, it's easy to say from the stands, and they've been scrapping it out on the pitch, and obviously you want to give it back. I felt that it was slightly disappointing. There was a moment Simba came over to clap us after the full-time whistle, and he was the only 1 there for about 5 minutes because everyone else was scrapping.
Alex
29:15 - 29:37
Ideally, I'd have liked them to be able to say, I'm not, we don't want a fine for behaving, we want to lose money, you can talk to the ref if you want, we're going to go and clap the fans. Possibly a bit naive, because as I say, they've been going at it for 100 years, stoppage time, and it's easy for me to sit there as a fan. But yeah, as I say, struggling to care, well, it was brilliant.
Mike Dowling
29:39 - 30:14
Yeah, I'm loving the wind up merchants. I know not everyone does and I get that, but Neil, what's your view on it? There was 1 player I know who was taking a bit of stick, it wasn't Will, and during the little melee at the end was sort of thumping the Sutton United badge and it was like, this is what a Together club does, they kind of, they do fight it out. And we've had some people saying various different things, but most people liked it, said yes. But what do you think, Neil, about the dark tactics coming back?
Mike Dowling
30:15 - 30:16
Well,
Neil
30:17 - 30:59
talk about Mr. King, first of all, who I was impressed with for somebody who gets substituted and comes on in the 92nd minute, gets booked in the 95th minute and then gets a straight red card for assaulting 1 of our coaching staff after the game. That is a very, very impressive performance. All of that in about 6 minutes. You've got to applaud the guy. And he is getting so much stick from the on the York forums because he's not a popular he's not a particular. But they think he's a waste of money and basically hasn't done very much ever since he arrived.
Neil
31:00 - 31:03
But he surpassed himself in those 6 minutes.
Mike Dowling
31:04 - 31:08
Beautiful, beautiful. What about our guys? What do you think?
Neil
31:10 - 31:57
I don't like the shenanigans particularly much because We don't always come out of it very well. We pick up lots of cards that ultimately have led to players missing games and things like that. So I'd rather we didn't have to, but then sometimes you do have a little bit of admiration for exponents of the dark arts. And York have turned around and compared us with Stevenage. And then somebody then pointed out that Morrison used to play for Stevenage. So they now believe that Steve Boratheon has created the new Sutton in the image of Stevenage.
Mike Dowling
31:59 - 32:00
Alex, you had your hand up. Wow.
Alex
32:00 - 32:03
So I don't know if I'm supposed to put my hand up or not.
Mike Dowling
32:03 - 32:04
Zoom me in.
Alex
32:04 - 32:34
I just want to add to my what I said about there because your point of time is a really good 1. And whilst I might not love aspects of it, I'm love to see that. To do all of this because you know some of them are on loan they've obviously lots of them only come to the you know I think there have been times in the season where I've thought do you all really want this do you really love it And then when you see those kind of scenes, whilst you may not be massive fans, but it does.
Alex
32:34 - 32:37
That's definitely a good thing. Yeah.
Mike Dowling
32:37 - 33:13
Yeah. I mean, I was just going to say you 2 are boring. I love it. I just want to encourage it. We'll have a Sunday team. We used to always start a friend, a friend against team. I knew we'd have a fight with us. Right. So post-match, I mean, loads of happy people, very well deserved, I mean, a good crowd, 244, I think it was, that made the trip. Certainly could hear you at various times, so, and I think they had over 6, 000 there so that's very impressive. We are up to 10th and I think we're just 3 points outside the playoffs.
Mike Dowling
33:13 - 33:51
There's some games in hand to come into play but I think the worst we can do is drop to 11th at the moment. I may have mentioned we're unbeaten since Christmas with 3 draws and 2 wins. I don't know if I've brought that up at all. But the big, big post-match talking point is the meltdown of their chairman or owner or whatever he is. Now Will, he's gone back to his old club, they released him, got a payoff, I believe he bought himself a Gucci bag with that payoff. But he sort of said, oh, good to go back.
Mike Dowling
33:51 - 34:22
Thanks for the free points. That was it. I mean, I know some other players. Yeah, a warm welcome. That was it. Yeah, yeah. But the chairman's been banging on about he's swanning around like he's a 30 grand a week player and he's only earning 700, which I mean, I don't know if you're allowed to release details of people's contracts even after they have produced, so who knows. But What did you think of it, Alex? We'll start with you. What did you think of the chairman's take on the subject?
Alex
34:23 - 35:06
Yeah, I'm boring again, Mike. Just, sorry, head loss from him. I'm not good on him, but I'm very keen that none of this on Twitter or whatever detracts from the performance of Will, the performance of the wonderful away win, you know, I don't want, I want this match to be remembered for how we, you know, something that's funny afterwards and it's hilarious that their chairman has had this head loss and decided to tweet negatively about Wilbur, he's just won us the game at their ground, you know, that's objective. Keen that the focus is on how well we did and how we played.
Alex
35:06 - 35:08
Sorry, bit of a boring answer.
Mike Dowling
35:08 - 35:24
No, I do agree. It was a great game. That's why I brought this up last on the game, really. But Yeah, it was just just bizarre. Just I mean, let's be honest. Could we imagine Bruce doing that?
Alex
35:25 - 35:26
I hope we never see that.
Mike Dowling
35:28 - 35:36
I don't think Bruce would even say that in private. He'd just go, well done and move on. Neil, what did you think of it all?
Neil
35:37 - 36:11
I couldn't believe it. A chairman of a football club is, should be responsible. They're the face of the club sometimes. And there is a level of how you should behave. And he seemed to be more like a certain person in America that is apt to say something daft in on Twitter or X or whatever. So that that sort of comparison, I think, says it all.
Mike Dowling
36:11 - 36:46
Yeah, there was 1 person saying sort of urging him on saying what you should do is put in an offer for Will that Sutton can't refuse and release him the next day. I'm like that would spectacularly backfire because we'd take the offer you release Will and he'd come back to us. Yeah do that that's fine no problem. But yeah just very very odd. But yeah it's bringing back some of those feelings of those reactions of everyone just getting so angry, that little old Sutton beat them and we're like, oh, I like this. Because to be fair, we're in the league more recently than you.
Mike Dowling
36:47 - 37:17
But anyway, I'm going to jump on and finish this off with the good, the bad and the funny about the day. So here's the what's it. So Neil, we'll start with you. What was good about the day?
Neil
37:19 - 37:40
For the first time in all of my years of supporting Sutton, I was able to walk to a match, have a beer and not have to worry about having a drink and driving home. So that was perfect. Staying with friends, literally, 20 minute walk up the road from the stadium. It was the perfect match day.
Mike Dowling
37:40 - 37:43
Oh, excellent. Alex, what was good for you?
Alex
37:44 - 38:12
Oh, what wasn't good? I mean, it was incredible. The low expectations versus feeling it full-time, this was obviously an easy 1. I can go with how compact and organized and disciplined we were because I was as recently as Wednesday's game against Wilston, and it was suddenly there and it was brilliant. Do it consistently, which I appreciate is a tricky ask, but if we start doing that, we'll have a good second half of the season.
Mike Dowling
38:13 - 38:16
Absolutely. What was bad for you, Alex?
Alex
38:18 - 38:49
I... Because there wasn't much bad. I think some of the play acting from both... But I'm going to flip it slightly and say that the bad bit is that... I get hope of the playoffs when you play like this. And as the famous saying goes, I'll kill you. And I worry that a nice, a nice coasting mid-table second half of the season with no hope, if We keep playing like that, it's not gonna happen. It's gonna get nice and tense, but bring it on.
Mike Dowling
38:49 - 38:54
Fine, we can get to the playoffs. We never do well in the playoffs. We're all right, we're fine.
Alex
38:54 - 38:55
Yeah, true.
Mike Dowling
38:57 - 38:58
Neil, what was bad for you?
Neil
39:01 - 39:11
Just York's attitude to losing. I think they were bad losers and they need a little bit more practice at it.
Alex
39:12 - 39:13
When do
Mike Dowling
39:13 - 39:23
we play them again? They've never beaten us. Just remind them of that. They've never beaten us. And what was funny about the day for you now?
Neil
39:24 - 40:08
2 things on that, it has to be Phil T's knees. He was wearing shorts. In some way, though, in subzero temperatures and his legs were blue. So we thought that if we were he should stand behind the goal that York were attacking and they would be so put off. There was no way they would score. And and the second thing has to be funny was the the York, the York, the Yorkie mascot who looked as if he had eaten far too many Yorkies and really need to go on a bit. He had really got a bit of a gut on him and he really was.
Neil
40:09 - 40:18
He was a very entertaining mascot, gave Francis a nice cuddle. But I thought both Jenny and I thought he'd eaten far too many Yorkies for his own good.
Mike Dowling
40:18 - 40:32
Yeah, he did. So when Jack had gone down after that heavy diabolical challenge that could have killed him, he then also dived onto the floor, which was quite funny. Alex, what was funny about the day for you?
Alex
40:32 - 40:35
Yes, so I feel Phil's knees are a good shot. I had to 1
Mike Dowling
40:35 - 40:37
of in
Alex
40:37 - 41:23
the first half when when Jack went down the mascot rolling around behind him on that was funny. If it's against your team, you got out your hands up and that was funny. And second 1 for me, we in a couple of pubs before we had got the bus over to the ground and on the bus we met the York youth, I suppose you'd call them a bunch of teenagers. Actually, they were, they were talking to us and we were all agreeing that Sutton's prospects were quite slim. Ha ha. Clearly had. I don't know don't condone underage drinking, but he clearly had some ended up reproducing some of that on the bus, which was widely considered that would be a metaphor for Saturn's afternoon and it turned out to be a metaphor for yours.
Mike Dowling
41:23 - 41:59
Nice, nice, lovely. Okay, well we're gonna move on. 2 games coming up. I'm not overly fussed about the first 1. I know some people like them, but I like my replay, so I don't like it. But Alex, first of all, what's your thoughts on the West Brom U21 match, the National League trophy, which no 1 knows the format of the next round, how you qualify or where the final might be. If indeed there is a final, what do you think of that? And what kind of lineup do you think we're gonna put out?
Alex
42:00 - 42:30
I think we'll, well, more than anything is no injuries. That's my number 1 priority. I think, yeah, we'll rest is a good chance for some of the squad players or those coming back from injury to get some. I'd like to see evidence of the shooting improvements in training that I've referenced, that players who aren't named William Davis. But yeah, just crucially, what many fit people for Saturday as possible.
Mike Dowling
42:32 - 42:37
Excellent. Neil, what was your thoughts on the West Brom game?
Neil
42:39 - 42:55
I agree with Alex. We'll see the players who haven't featured this weekend and the same culprits from the Academy side. So possibly Vinnie and Junior, expect them to play certainly.
Alex
42:57 - 42:58
Jack, Jack
Neil
42:58 - 43:15
Wadham will get a run out. And then Harry, the new guy, I think he'll probably start. That will give him a chance to get used to playing, get a full 90 minutes out of him and some shooting practice.
Mike Dowling
43:16 - 43:31
Perfect. And then on to the more important game, the Eastley game. I know it's a week away, but how are you feeling about the Eastley game? And I will look for a prediction of that 1. Early prediction, obviously, same rules apply.
Neil
43:32 - 43:47
They deserve to be beaten because I think they robbed us of a win down at their place. And a prediction, ooh, I might even go a 2-0 on that 1.
Mike Dowling
43:47 - 43:56
That's excellent. Excellent. Well, yeah, obviously. Yeah, you still can put your injury in, don't worry. Alex, what do you think of the Eastleigh game?
Alex
43:56 - 44:28
Yeah, big game. I think we went above them yesterday, didn't we? So it showed that we are, you know, better than the teams around us and get a get a leg up on the and competing for some of those playoff spots. So and a good chance to build momentum because, you know, being unbeaten, Mike, and the wins we've had in some of the cup competitions, but that was on the 30th of November yesterday. So whilst we've been playing well, we haven't had a run of consecutive wins in the league for a long time. So it'd be a good, good chance to do that.
Alex
44:29 - 44:33
As is my way, I'm going to double Neil's prediction and say 4-0 to the mighty OOs.
Mike Dowling
44:34 - 44:40
Okay, well I'm going to go 3-1. Just somewhere in the middle of those 2.
Neil
44:41 - 44:42
Not 5-2?
Mike Dowling
44:43 - 44:50
No, no, no, I'm over that now. See, 5-2 is against the big teams, you know, the teams that we're expected to lose against, that's where I know we're going to
Alex
44:50 - 44:53
turn up. It's an angry, angry Italy fans now.
Mike Dowling
44:53 - 45:19
Yeah, I had a couple of York City fans sort of saying, oh, that's a bold prediction, blah, blah, blah. And then 1 of them went, actually, you know what, the games I've watched, we've had 2 nils, 3 nils and losses and stuff because it wouldn't be out of character. I was like oh okay, none of them has actually come back to me yet. But yes, the leaderboard, Neil, I think you're 12 points above me when I last looked so that sounds a lot but it's 8 points a game so I
Neil
45:19 - 45:21
only got a point yesterday literally
Mike Dowling
45:21 - 45:24
I think I got I had I had Will to score by the way so
Neil
45:25 - 45:29
I went Ashley you know yeah Will can't keep on scoring first
Mike Dowling
45:29 - 46:00
yeah That's what we said about Josh for the first few weeks of the season as well. So but do join in the prediction league. The code is out there somewhere or just message me and I'll send it to you or I will get my finger out and start reposting the little videos. But we are going to wrap up this episode of Sutton Podcast. As always, we appreciate your attention and feedback. Get involved in the Knowing Me, Knowing You segment, what odd place have you managed to speak to someone about Sutton United? And follow, like, share on all socials at Sutton Podcast.
Mike Dowling
46:00 - 46:25
Give us the thumbs up, ego boosting. We are going to be back after the Easily match and we will have Mark and Joe. I've just sent out to the email to everyone for the next batch of games as well, so get on that because I think there's only 5. As always, thank you to our sponsors, Lucky Star Gin, big thank you to today's panel Neil and Alex, and thank you to listeners. I hope you've enjoyed this episode of Sutton Podcast. Take care and we'll catch up soon. Bye bye.
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